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Garden City is the main town on the lake and a great base from which to explore the region. For a quieter experience, head to the more secluded East Beach on the Idaho side. North Beach State Park on the Idaho side is a Bear Lake favorite, with a two-mile stretch of sand featuring clear waters that are ideal for swimming. Rendezvous Beach, just outside of Garden City, Utah, is a sandy beach that’s popular for water skiing and boating.
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Bear Lake is often referred to as the Caribbean of the Rockies for its sparkling blue waters, which are caused by its rich source of calcium carbonate particles that reflect a blue hue on the surface. On the border of Utah and Idaho, around 2.5 hours north of Salt Lake City, you’ll find Bear Lake, a freshwater lake with 50 miles of shoreline and dozens of inviting sandy beaches.
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